What comes to mind when you hear the term spiritual warfare?
SCARY. INTENSE. These were some words used by attendees of our third #GO equipping workshop “Spiritual Warfare: Equipped for Battle”.
Photo by Dennis Eusebio on Unsplash
Workshop speaker, Winnie, recounted her story: "On my way to the LoveSingapore Prayer Summit 2024 for pastors and ministry leaders, we noticed the car was rattling whenever the speed increased to more than 100 km/hr.
Hours later, we arrived at the hotel in Malaysia safely and sent the car for servicing. It turned out that there was a long scratch on the tyre. Thankfully, no accident happened to us on the road!
After the conference, I got a ride from a couple who also had tire trouble—one tire had punctured before their trip from Singapore.
Later, I made my way back to Singapore with my husband and friends. As we were driving off, there was a low rumbling sound and the tyre alarm went off. Upon inspection, we found one tyre that was completely flat, even though it had been replaced just two months earlier!
Three episodes in a row seem a bit uncanny to me. We may not know if they were just coincidences or part of spiritual warfare but we know for sure, God is our sovereign protector, even in the midst of spiritual warfare!"
Spiritual warfare is a reality, whether you recognise it or not.
But the good news is that you are on the victory side because of what Christ has done on the cross for us. Jesus saved us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. The unfortunate news is that we will continue to engage in spiritual battles while we live on this earth.
Jesus said in John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
The Greek word for "overcome" means "to defeat or conquer; to achieve victory in a contest or military conflict." This "world" refers to the created physical realm, distinct from the heavenly or spiritual realm. Jesus understands that we encounter trouble and sorrow on earth, but He has overcome the world and every obstacle for us.
We must understand spiritual warfare, identify our enemies, and claim the spiritual resources God provides.
a. "It’s a tug-of-war between God and Satan."
"... Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross." (Colossians 2:13-15)
Remember, you are not fighting a losing battle. Christ has already won by overcoming sin and death through His crucifixion and resurrection. Your spiritual battles are to be fought in the power and authority of Christ!
b. "It only happens in the mission field."
From the day you believe in Jesus, you are engaged in a spiritual war. Spiritual warfare is an ongoing reality in our spiritual realm; it’s not reserved only for major evangelistic thrusts and mission trips. 1 Peter 5:8-9 reminds us that believers worldwide face persecution, testing, and suffering for their faith. Therefore, we are to stand firm and victorious in Christ Jesus!
c. "It’s a physical fight."
This is partially true. Physical symptoms may or may not be present, but it is crucial to note that the absence of such signs does not imply the absence of spiritual warfare.
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
The Bible tells us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the evil one. And guess what? His playground is in our minds. Satan spews lies about how we are not worthy or loved, or that we need to earn our way to heaven. The greater battlefield is in the mind, so we must guard it with God's truth (Phil 4:6).
a. Who on Earth (Or in Heaven) Are We Battling Against?
i. The Flesh (Inside)
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." (1 John 2:15-17)
As Christians, we are constantly battling between our sinful nature—desire to do (lust of the flesh), desire to have (lust of the eyes), and desire to be (pride)—and what we know the Lord wants us to do.
ii. The World (Outside)
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:15–16)
This refers to the sinful world's ungodly ideologies and influences of this age.
iii. The Devil (Around)
The devil, also known as Satan, is:
b. What Is the Enemy’s Goal?
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)
Satan schemes to slowly, subtly nudge us away from God at every chance. We need to be alert, be aware and be prepared to defend our faith.
c. What Is the Enemy’s Strategy?
Satan uses deception to make us doubt God, His purposes, intentions, plans, and power. When that little doubt is planted, distrust takes root, disobedience takes over our growth and unfortunately, the only result is (spiritual) death.
Process:
Doubt → Distrust → Disobedience → Death
In Genesis 3:1-7, it took just four words from Satan, "Did God really say.." for Eve to question God's instruction. It’s usually very subtle and doesn’t seem like much. When tempted, Satan nudges us forward and whispers, "Hey you, did God really say you can't do that?" The moment we entertain that thought, we've lost this round of the fight.
Satan works in unbelievers to:
What is Satan really trying to do to believers?
We must build our foundation on God's truth to discern between His truth and Satan's lies.
You are not alone in this battle! God has already provided all the resources you need to defend against Satan’s schemes.
a. Abide in God’s Love
"But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." (Jude 1:20-21)
Learn to dwell in God’s love instead of reacting to the evil one. Reflect on your intimacy with God, dedicate time to surrender your fears and expectations to Him.
If we have conflicts with one another, we can bring them unto the Lord or talk to someone trustworthy. Let’s not carry unnecessary baggage on our mission trip journey.
b. Experience the Power and Reality of God With Us and in Us
As Christ commissions us in Matthew 28:18-20, He promises His continual presence as we go forth to make disciples everywhere. By choosing to be filled with the Holy Spirit, we can be empowered to be effective witnesses of Christ.
c. Prayer
i. Pray Aloud
The evil one can’t read your mind; he is not all-knowing like God. Praying aloud (not loudly) openly declares God’s authority over the mission ground and its people. For instance, you can declare God's lordship over the campus and its people as you do a prayer walk.
ii. Pray for Ourselves
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." (Eph 6:18-20)
We can pray for ourselves to be ready and bold witnesses.
iii. Pray for Non-believers
"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
We can pray for non-believers to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
The belt of truth: Just as an armour is held together by a belt, the Christian life is upheld by truth. When you understand the truth about who God is, your identity as His child and heir, and the nature of spiritual conflict, you are less likely to be deceived by the devil's schemes.
The breastplate of righteousness: In ancient battles, protecting the heart and head was crucial, so no one would skimp on a breastplate—it guarded the largest, most vulnerable area. Similarly, the enemy targets your good works. Moral failure not only harms you but also undermines the gospel. Therefore, guard yourself against being knocked out of the battle by moral carelessness.
Feet fitted with the readiness from the gospel of peace: This readiness comes from the assurance that you are reconciled with God, granting you the peace to stand firm and share it with others. You are equipped to persevere in following Christ. Even in battle, you carry the message of peace.
The shield of faith: Every attack from Satan can be blocked by faith. By trusting in the Lord and acting on that trust, you create an impenetrable barrier. This doesn’t mean you won’t face difficulties, but don't let the enemy shake your confidence in God’s goodness and plan. Just as water extinguishes flaming arrows on a shield, a faith soaked in the Word offers protection.
The helmet of salvation: The head is another vital area a soldier must protect. Interestingly, you protect your head with what’s inside it: the knowledge of your salvation. As a follower of Christ, the Lord has already delivered, redeemed, and liberated you. Satan’s armies can never take that away from you. While he may attack, his plans are ultimately futile.
The sword of the Spirit: The one offensive element of God’s armour is the sword. Paul teaches that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of truth. This doesn’t mean attacking people with God’s Word; instead, it means countering the enemy’s attacks with scriptural truths, as Jesus did during His temptation (Matthew 4:1–11). When you proclaim God’s truth, the Spirit goes before you.
e. Christ is Interceding for Us
Just as soldiers prepare for battle, there are crucial steps to prepare for a mission trip.
Personally, we can begin by reaffirming our identity in Christ and putting on our spiritual armour.
As a team, you can have worship, devotions, and prayer times together. Engaging in prayer walks and personal retreats before and after the trip are also crucial. Additionally, enlisting a dedicated team of prayer warriors to support your team with prayer during the trip is essential.
Ready to embark on a mission trip? Check out our trips here!
Winnie Yeo
Cru Singapore National Prayer Champion
Sensing that full-time ministry workers are too often busy, barren, and burning out, Winnie took up her current role in 2013, believing that God is calling her to advocate a God-attentive, God-dependent, and God-responsive lifestyle.
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